therapeutic
Promoting physical recovery
Therapeutic describes something that heals or promotes health and wellbeing.
Medical treatments are therapeutic, but so are activities that restore mental or emotional balance: I find gardening therapeutic.
A therapeutic conversation helps someone process difficult feelings.
The word often implies relief or restoration rather than cure—something that makes you feel better even if it doesn't fix the underlying problem.
Promoting recovery from illness
- remedialIntended to fix problems
- medicinalHaving healing properties
- restorativePromoting return to health
- rehabilitativePromoting return to health
palliative · corrective · reparative · salve · ointment · treatment · convalescence · regeneration
Reducing distress or discomfort
- calmingInducing a settled state
- consolingGiving solace to another
- nurturingSupportive care-giving
- reassuringRestoring calm or confidence
comforting · supportive · empathetic · compassionate · gentle · tender · alleviating · easing
Inducing a settled state
- destressingReducing mental tension
- unwindingReleasing coiled tension
- tranquilizingAdministering calming drugs
- peacefulFree from disturbance
serene · meditative · restful · quieting · decompressing · spa · massage · sauna
Addressing interconnected wholes
- mindfulConsciously attentive
- yogaMind-body exercise discipline
- tai-chiSlow Chinese martial practice
- well-beingState of health, contentment
balanced · harmonious · self-care · integrative · preventive · healthful · wholesome · ayurvedic
Of healthcare practice
- psychiatricOf mental health treatment
- psychologicalOf the mind
- pharmacologicalOf drug science
- evidence-basedSupported by verified data
diagnostic · prescriptive · interventional · outpatient · inpatient · counseling · cognitive-behavioral · dosage
Promoting return to health
- sobrietyUnimpaired mental state
- detoxificationRemoving harmful substances internally
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- twelve-stepAddiction recovery framework
withdrawal · aftercare · clean · sober · sponsorship · intervention · harm-reduction · methadone
curative
Promoting recovery from illness
- remedialIntended to fix problems
- medicinalHaving healing properties
- restorativePromoting return to health
rehabilitative · palliative · corrective · reparative · salve · ointment · treatment · convalescence · regeneration · rejuvenation
soothing
Reducing distress or discomfort
reassuring · comforting · supportive · empathetic · compassionate · gentle · tender · alleviating · easing · cathartic
calming
Inducing a settled state
- destressingReducing mental tension
- unwindingReleasing coiled tension
- tranquilizingAdministering calming drugs
peaceful · serene · meditative · restful · quieting · decompressing · spa · massage · sauna · hammam
holistic
Addressing interconnected wholes
well-being · balanced · harmonious · self-care · integrative · preventive · healthful · wholesome · ayurvedic · naturopathic
medical
Of healthcare practice
- psychiatricOf mental health treatment
- psychologicalOf the mind
- pharmacologicalOf drug science
evidence-based · diagnostic · prescriptive · interventional · outpatient · inpatient · counseling · cognitive-behavioral · dosage
rehabilitative
Promoting return to health
- sobrietyUnimpaired mental state
- detoxificationRemoving harmful substances internally
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
twelve-step · withdrawal · aftercare · clean · sober · sponsorship · intervention · harm-reduction · methadone
- herbalismmint, herbal remedies, sage, medicinal herbs, lavender
- Drug Traitsaddictive, potent, toxic, sedative, narcotic
- healing effectscurative, restorative, healing, soothing, pain relief
- medical adjectivessurgical, cardiac, orthopedic, malignant, respiratory
- Showerheadshandheld, rainfall, fixed, detachable, rain shower
- FDAdrug approval, approval letter, drug recall, recalls, labeling laws
therapeuticharmful
Causing damage or injury
damaging · injurious · detrimental · toxic · poisonous
therapeutictraumatic
Causing severe emotional damage
stressful · distressing · harmful · upsetting · disturbing
- therapeutic massageManual tissue manipulation for healing
- therapeutic treatmentsMedical care for healing
- therapeutic writingHealing through written expression
- therapeutic doseDrug amount that heals
- therapeutic relationshipPatient-practitioner trust bond
- therapeutic drugsSubstances used for treatment